Device for operating car couplers



April 14, 1931. w. P. MURPHY DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR COUPLERS FiledFeb. 2'7, 1929 112112111011,- fl/bl fer]? M17172] fHiorne} Patented Apr. 14, 1931 luirs srarss WALTER 1P. MURPHY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOI COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

s, nssrenoa 'ro'uit'ron METAL rnonrro'rs A conroaa'rion or DELAWARE DEVICE FOR ornianrrns can CQUPLERS Application filed February 27,: 1529.:jgeria1 ri 343,156.

The invention relates tov devices for operat ingrailway car couplers and is especially adapted to that type of coupler having a rotor mounted thereon which upon being rotated operates the coupler; that is, unlocks the knuckle; throws the knuckle and/or puts the coupler in look set position. Some railroads prefer a device which operates the coupler by pushing a handle downwardly in a vertical plane andthe object of my invention is to provide a device which is operated by such a vertical plane motion and is adapted for use with a rotor type coupler. a

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device wherein the parts can be proportioned and dimensioned so as to obtain great power for operating the coupler.

Another object is to provide such a device which will accommodate thevarious service movements of the coupler without binding or distorting any r .of the component parts thereof. I

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows a typical application of the device to a railway car. 1

Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the device and a fragmentary part of the car.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the rotating rod and pinion. I

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the connecting member.

Fig. 5 rotating member and apart of'the coupler. I

The usual parts of the car are shown, such as end wall 1; striking casting 2; coupler 3 and coupler rotor 4.

My device comprises a rotating member 6 which is hooked into the eye 7 of the rotor 4.

shows the connection between the the rotor which forms of the coupler or connected thereto in any" Theouter end of this non-circular, or preferas to provide a non-rotative engagement with the pinion 9 which is loosely and slidably mounted thereon. A connecting member 10 is mounted upon the car and the operating lever 11 is pivotally mounted thereon by pin 12 to move substantially in; a vertical plane. The lever is provided with a handle or' pedal 14 positioned convenient manner. rotating member is ably square, (8) so adjacent the side of the car for convenience of operation and the inner'end is provided with a rack 15 which engages the pinion so that an upward or downward movement of the handle will rotate the rotating rod 6.

The pinion 9 is slidably mounted on the.

rotating member to permit the coupler to accommodatethe lateral service movements of the coupler without affecting the relation between the pinion and the rack. The connecting member is so designed (at 17) to a the rotating member to pass by the The permit 7 lever fulcrum without interference.

connecting member is pivotally mounted.

upon the car (18) to permit the coupler to move backwardly and forwardly in service without binding any of the component parts of the device.

The connecting member 10 is provided with a pocket which in the structure illustrated (Fig. 4) is formed by the inner wall 20; outer wall 21 and end walls 22 23. The inner and outer walls are provided with apertures 24; for engagement and support of the outer end of the rotating member 6. The pinion 9 is mounted on the rotating member in this pocket and the rack 15 on the operating lever is also confined in this pocket when in engagement with the pinion; in other words, the endwall 22 retains the rack in operative relation to the pinion. The:

outer wall 21 is preferably removable from the connecting member so that the device can be taken apart. The connecting member 10 is preferably provided with upper and lower wings 26 for engagement with the fulcrum member 27 which is mounted on the car.

Fig. 5shows a fragmentary part of a couplerhaving a rotor 4t mounted thereon by I wings 28, which rotor is connected to the lock lifter 29 for operating the coupler. For 1 fuller description of this type of coupler reference is made to Kinne Patent No. 1,639,300

of August 16, 1927.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is I to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that Va rious modifications thereof within the scope of the claim will occur to persons skilled in i the art.

' I claim:

A device for operating a car coupler comprising a rotor supported by the coupler, a v bracket fulcrumed upon the car for movement in a horizontal plane, a rotatable rod with its inner end operatively attached to the rotor and its outer end provided with a pin- 10 ion, said rod having its outer end mounted upon said bracket so as to permit its inner end to accommodate the service movements of the coupler, and an operating lever mounted upon said bracket to move only in 15 a substantially vertical plane and provided with a rack which engages the pinion.

1WALTER P. MURPHY. 

